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Description: Featuring an Academy AwardÂ(r)-winning performance by Poitier*, and nominated** for four additional OscarsÂ(r), including Best Picture, Lilies of the Field is a funny, sentimental, charming and uplifting film (The Hollywood Reporter). Homer Smith (Sidney Poitier), an itinerant handyman, is driving through the Arizona desert when he meets five impoverished nuns. Stopping to fix their leaky farmhouse roof, Homer discovers that not only will the Mother Superior not pay him for the job, but she also wants him to build their chapelfor free! Hesitant at first, Homer soon finds himself single-handedly raising the chapel and the financing. But although hewill not receive a monetary reward, Homer knows that when his work is done, he'll leave that dusty desert town a much better place than when he found it. *1963: Actor **1963: Supporting Actress (Skala), Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography (B&W)Amazon.com essential video: Sidney Poitier won an Oscar for this endearing movie about a handyman who thinks he's just passing through a little town in New Mexico, and ends up staying awhile to build a chapel for a cluster of German-speaking nuns. The renowned actor is highly entertaining in his combative exchanges with Lilia Skala, playing a Mother Superior who survived Hitler and makes no bones about bullying the goodhearted, itinerant worker into doing more and more for her. The film has an ambling, easygoing style with several memorable moments, not least of all is Poitier leading his holy hostesses through verses of the gospel song "Amen." Lilies is directed by the late Ralph Nelson, a pioneering director of live television who also made a number of popular feature films with notable performances (Jackie Gleason in Requiem for a Heavyweight, Cary Grant in Father Goose, Cliff Robertson in Charly) in the 1960s and 1970s. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
- Lilies of the Field : I am not really a fan of Sidney Poitier ( this was purchased as a gift for my step father and he is a fan, state the movie was very good ) will borrow his one day and watch it, right now all I can do is rate it for him.
- Great Gift!: I bought this for my best friend because he said it was the best movie of all times. He loved it as a gift!
- Amazing Catholic Movie: This is a great movie in general and especially for any Catholic family. It is very entertaining with great acting from Sidney Poitier, as would be expected. But it is especially significant for Catholics. It shows us how God calls us to certain tasks in life. We can choose to disobey His Will, or we can choose to follow it. But if we choose to follow it, we should not expect thank you's, rewards, money, or even any recognition. The character played by Poitier is not treated well by the nuns at all, and yet he decides to accomplish what he was asked to do. Not that the nuns are portrayed badly, they are wonderful, pious sisters who humbly serve God and want the best for everyone, but are also determined and head strong: someone like Mother Teresa who if she was promised something by an official of a foreign government or company (for example building a orphanage), she would stubbornly pursue the issue until it was accomplished by that official. For those who love Catholic liturgy and history, figure out why the priest during the Mass in the movie is wearing sunglasses.
- A really good movie: This is a classic, great movie. It's one that is watchable on a repeat basis. Low key but very meaningful. The movie is in black and white but that actually seems to add to it in the same way that the H. Bogart movies 'Casablanca' and 'Sahara' effectively use that medium.
The price is right. It's a keeper. Buy it and sit back and enjoy a great performance. - Poitier at his best: This is the film that made me a Sidney Poitier fan. Yes, it's touching, and has life's lessons that can be learned, both for him and the nuns, but it is also funny. You can't miss adding this one to your collection. I have it in mine and plan on adding some more of his.
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